porta-potties, 505 to be exact. ♪ but behind the scenes, prepping for an inauguration is also about preserving memorabilia for history. that's diane's job, as senate curator, she collects as much as she can from the event, even the carpet the president stands on to take the oath. so you saved the carpet he stood on? >> uh-huh. >> reporter: on the west front? >> absolutely. >> reporter: where is it? >> the national archive. >> reporter: this is a sample? >> yes. having this in the collection in 200 year's time, someone can say that's exactly the color, the make, the information about it. i mean, it sounds like a lot of detail for an average person but in 200 year's time somebody says, great, i'm glad someone saved that so we have it for the record. >> reporter: history in the making. dana bash, cnn, washington.

>> a historic second term begins. >> i, barack hussein obama, do solemnly swear. >> so help you god? >> so help me god. >> now the stage is set for a day long party in the nation's capital. we'll take you behind the scenes of the last-minute preparation. for the president's speech, the parade, the balls and the tone being set for the battles ahead. >> i say to you that the challenges we face are real but know this, america. they will be met. >> this is cnn's coverage of the presidential inauguration. from the first salute to the last dance. a divided nation comes together for a celebration of democracy. >> and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. we are and forever will be the united states of america.

♪ >> we are live at the national mall. good evening, everyone. i'm anderson cooper. tomorrow, the lead band leading off the parade is going to be from gramibling state, university, louisiana. tonight, they lead off our coverage. take it away, guys. ♪

♪ >> we want to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. i'm wolf blitzer here on the national mall in washington, d.c. we're going to be hearing from the grambling state marching band all hour. that is historic day already here in the nation's capital. president barack obama officially beginning his second term after a private swearing-in. just hours from now, a crowd of 800,000 people, maybe more, will gather right here for the public ceremony and the excitement is only just beginning. big parties are already getting under way all across the nation's capital tonight. let's bring in cnn's brook baldwin joining us from the red, white and blue ball.

brooke, where are you? you look lovely. >> wolf blitzer, i'm inside the worner theater. absolutely gorgeous. you just missed the opening band, local band. they're here to tee up the reason we're here. i'm honored to be because we're recognizing the sacrifice of the men and women in uniform. we're about to hear from lynyrd skynyrd. they're the headlining band. members -- some democrats, some republicans in the band. i talked to them backstage. they talked to me about why they wanted to perform tonight. take a listen. >> bo, good to see you again. >> we don't have sound. they wanted to be here because them braces really the patriotism. they say that they were supposed to initially play at the democratic convention. a lead singer here endorsed mitt romney and about getting behind the president now and talking to a wounded warrior tonight, he

said this is actually, wolf, therapeutic for them to be here. many suffering ptsd and a special night out from walter reed and a night to be honored. members of congress coming together tonight for this. lynyrd skynyrd, about to hear from the daughter of senator thune singing and we'll stay here live. it is a tremendous opportunity to thank what really sometimes can be a thankless job, fighting for our freedoms and so we'll be hearing from them later tonight in addition to lynyrd skynyrd right here at warner theater. back to you. >> and we can hear a little bit of that live performance tonight. is that right, brooke? >> yes. they will be up. they will actually after the us the tuskegee. they're the very first aviators in world war ii. so they will be here tonight. i've seen rolling thunder here

tonight. a number of veterans, highly decorated. the end of the whole thing, i know, wolf, you are excited about katy perry last night. i raise you a lynyrd skynyrd at the warner theater taking it live. >> so excited. i'm pumped. you look fabulous. love the dress. we'll show the view earls the whole outfit later tonight. don't go too far away, brooke. i want the viewers to see how gorgeous you look tonight. susan malveaux standings by live at the kennedy center with the latino event hosted by eva longoria. suzanne, tell us what's going on over there. >> reporter: it's exciting at the kennedy center because you have two different things going on simultaneously. smoky robinson wrapped up an amazing concert. hundreds of people gathering here called let freedom ring concert in honor of dr. martin luther king. on the other side of the kennedy center you had really a who's who in latino community

celebrating the fact there's a sense of empowerment in the community because of the campaign, because of the election and the re-election of president barack obama. had a chance to talk to a lot of people who showed up. some on the red carpet. others here for the concert. bo biden, one of those, of course, who was here with his dad and family. i think he said like 50 of them running around over the weekend getting together for the inaugural events. he said it's all a big celebration tonight. so we talked a little bit about the things that happened including a little controversial remark his father made really off camera when he accidentally said he was the president. listen. >> bo, good to see you again. >> great to see you. >> what do you make of the last 24 hours and looking forward? i mean, there must be a lot of excitement. >> a lot of excitement. our whole family is together. about 50 bidens and running around this town. 13 immediate family. a bunch of kids. and it was really wonderful to

see my dad sworn in this morning again and to be barack obama's vice president. it's a job he loves, i think he's pretty darn good at it and they're at work as we speak. >> what do you make of the fact that your father made the slip and said, well, president as well as vice president? >> i was with him. i'm out there when the -- look. very easy word to forget sometimes and he was there to talk about the president. and last night. and talk about what a great choice that iowa made 2008 when they chose barack obama and the caucuses which we're out there working hard, as well, for. and which he was there to talk about in iowa what a phenomenal choice that iowa made in 2008 and how important it was then to set president obama on his course and also this past cycle in 2012 and general election. you know, iowa plays a central part as you covered in the caucuses and rarely a central role in the general election. it did this time around, too. thanks them. >> what does it mean for you and your dad to be part of the

celebration of the latino empowerment and did for the second inauguration and the campaign? >> it's a big thank you here. the latino community, both in delaware where i'm from and the west to the east, north and south. incredibly important community. one i'm close with in my state and central to the fabric of my state and my dad's here to thank the community in a small way for being there and having the president's back. >> thank you, bo. good to see you. >> good do see you. >> wolf, they're inside. they're participating in the celebration. it is very upbeat. a lot of performances, actresses singing numbers. these kinds of things and really fascinating, i had a chance to talk to a number of people on the red carpet and very serious about what they were saying in terms of the message about where the latino community is going politically and what this means for them. i had a chance to talk to eva longoria. many others, as well.

i want you to listen to why this is so important. >> tell me what this evening means to you, the inauguration and really the empowerment of the latino community. >> what is special about tonight is that i think for the first time the hispanic community is really being honored. as it perhaps should have been many years ago. but that's okay. you know? we have patience. just ask the president. we are -- i don't know if we're patient but we're per severing and i think the hispanic community deserves it and i think what is especially marvelous tonight is that we're not the only ones doing a fabulous show. >> you look beautiful. >> thank you. >> seen you on the campaign trail, the dnc. >> yes. >> very active in politics. what does this evening mean for you and yf you been so involved? >> i've always been involved. this is the first time i was a co-chair and the responsibilities heightened and, you know, were a lot this time

around and i welcomed it and very honored to be part of the process. the best part is going across the country and, you know, talking to people about what they cared about and wanted. not just latinos but women and youth and minorities. all walks of life and a lot of fun doing it. tonight's special because it's a big thank you to this vote that turned out. historic mobilization of the hispanic vote and tonight is recognizing this community and saying, you know, you have -- you're part of the thread that makes up america. >> to be here in the inauguration is just true honor for me representing, you know, where i'm from. my parents were immigrants. i'm dominican american. it's a dream to be true here and that song in spanglish and who i am. i studied in new york. we're here to represent latinos but represent, also, americans and no matter where you're from, no matter what language and what

race, we should stick together and fight for our country. >> can you give me a few bars? >> it goes -- ♪ when the land is dark >> beautiful. >> thank you. >> thank you. have a good night. >> he is very talented. he is one of the people wrapping up the program here. there are 2, 100 people in the opera house but there are thousands of people watching this via facebook or uni-vision. live streaming following this. very exciting evening tonight. real lay celebration and of course looking forward to the big day tomorrow, inauguration day. wolf, anderson? >> suzanne, thanks very much. suzanne looks fabulous tonight, too. brooke baldwin. >> i'm surprised you're not with the bands. you love your katy perry. >> lynyrd skynyrd coming up. >> you're very excited. let's talk about what's happened today already and also what happens tomorrow. want to bring in our panel of

folk who is are joining us. cornell belcher, of course, with us here. also "the washington post" columnist, sally quinn. van jones, as well. we saw the spearing in earlier today. the official swearing in. which has to take place on sunday. it was very quick but it really event steeped in history and history. not a lot of pageantry but an important moment. >> history because it's the third time he's taken the oath of office. and he's going to do it another time tomorrow so i think the only president who's taken it four times. >> fdr. >> that's right. because he was four different administrations. >> he was elected four times. >> but a remarkable moment to witness. i mean, they got it right this time and not mess-ups but -- >> i think his daughter said, you know, dad, it's a good thing you didn't screw up or something. >> you didn't. >> he wasn't the one that screwed up. chief justice last time. >> it was a very powerful moment. i mean, for a couple of reasons. personally, you see his

confidence. you see he's really grown in to the role. occupying the role. you saw the pride in his daughters' eyes. we went from exhilaration in 2008 to confirmation and i think for a lot of people, they weren't sure an accident of history. this country is great enough to get beyond the racial segregation of very event past and do this, not just once, but twice. very powerful moment. >> cornell, do you think he is a different man than he was four years ago? >> well, i think the gray share shows that he's different. i said you are as gray as i am. >> nothing wrong with gray hair. >> says the panel. >> yes. >> but you can see it. i think he came in, we came in with a lot of hope and thinking we can change washington. i think now he sees that, you know, the people need to be a part of this process to change washington. he alone and the white house alone, he can't change

washington. i think you will see them going back more and more to the people and leaning on organizing for action now and bringing measure to washington to fix that very dysfunctional body. >> does that mean a constant campaign mode? >> i think you will have to see to a certain extent a constant sort of organizing mode. the extremism in congress right now that's breaking congress, you have speaker boehner that can't control his own caucus. i think when you see that sort of extremism in congress and nothing moving forward, i think it's a unique time and calls for unique measures. >> say something. >> no. i'm always -- >> hard to argue with that. >> margaret, do you see republicans -- how do you see republicans playing this? >> here's what's fascinating. there's the hastert rule, right? which boehner shunned two times now. you have to get the majority of the coalition to go along with the bill or somehow eroding away

the power base. twice now boehner with sandy and then the fiscal cliff deal has had -- depended on a majority of democrats and reasonable edge of the opposition, reasonable amount of republicans to go along with it. can this sustain itself? that is barack obama's best hope of a legacy piece in the second term. >> everybody stand by because we have some important news coming up. >> let me guess, band related. >> band related. not only the marching band, we have rock n roll. we have solid rock n roll. also, listening to grambling, we have alino cho. who's the designer of the first lady's gown? stand by. ♪

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i'm brooke baldwin live in washington, d.c. here on the eve of a very significant day for the president of the united states. of course, the public swearing-in, the west side of the capitol building. but as we're here, of course, for the president, we have to talk about his wife the first lady and what could possibly be the best kept secret in washington. what's she going to wear tomorrow night? the big inaugural ball gown. it's very, very secretive. very hush-hush. and of course, who would know the scoop perhaps tonight? alino cho with the inside look at the fierce competition here to design for the first lady. >> first lady michelle obama. >> reporter: when first lady michelle obama walked out on stage in that memorable white gown by jason wu, overnight the designer became a household name.

take me back. >> it's me! >> reporter: so who will be the lucky one four years later? >> it is brilliant what she's done in keeping a secret, i have to say, because in the previous administrations while there's always interest in what the first lady wore, there was never this kind of red carpet moment. >> reporter: sources close to the process say what started out as a 20-designer field for the gown whittled down to two. two designers who have a shot at worldwide game. so who are they? likely a new york-based designer and quite possibly one emerging versus established. around thanksgiving, designers submit sketches. garments are made, fittings and more fittings. the gowns are sut shuttled back and forth between new york and d.c. and because these designers don't have direct access to the first lady, they have mannequins made in her likeness that live in the studios. >> some people would compare it to dressing anne hathaway but i

would say every celebrity at the golden globes. that much exposure. >> reporter: by one estimate, a single appearance of the first lady is wort $14 million. tally up the public appearances for the year and that's a nearly $3 billion boost to the fashion industry. take jason wu, since that moment, he's designed everything from a target collection to candles to furniture. but that's business. what will the gown look like? if the past is any guide, mrs. obama with those famous arms tends to favor strapless and one shoulder gowns. fitted at the waist and lots of color. sources say strapless is at least one option she's considering. designers are mindful this piece of clothing is not just an outfit but a piece of history, too. >> you have to describe in this garment what she's feeling, the importance of the moment. >> i felt like betsy ross. >> reporter: designer isabel

gained fame after the dressing the first lady on the swearing-in. >> i wanted to do the inauguration. >> reporter: why? >> because that's the moment that the whole world is a part of. and a whole world was watching. >> reporter: which is why this time -- >> some people wanted the know, are you a part of it this time? there's nothing more important than seeing someone else have this gift and what they do with it. >> and let me bring in our cnn resident fashionista alino cho and let's begin with you. you have the inside scoop. can we talk about what she was wearing the blue, the cardigan for the private swearing-in. what do you know? >> well, you're right. it was marine cashmere cropped cardigan and a matching marine blue pink blush print dress

there. made by an american designer reed crakow and not only in the one outfit supporting the designer of his name sake label, the person, but reed is also the president of the iconic american brand coach which does $5 billion in sales and employs 16,000 people worldwide. >> wow. >> so it really was a brilliant choice from a fashion standpoint. i actually spoke to reed just about an hour or two ago. he told me for me this is one of the most important moments of my career. he said michelle obama to me epitomizes a modern, powerful and independent woman. when i asked him whether he was nervous, he said, being nervous, well, that's just part of being inspired, as well. >> you know, alino, with josie, the nerves. the thing that gets me is these designers, they have no idea if

she chose their gown until she wears it an they see her on television. >> no. i mean, unlike an actress in hollywood, they aren't informed by the white house if she'll ever wear the gown or not. jason wu, flashback four years ago, had no idea until he saw it on tv and literally said, he was screaming at home when he saw her in his dress. >> listening to your piece and talking about, you know, beautiful white one-shoulder gown you mentioned her stunning arms. are we thinking a color tomorrow night? do we have any idea what color? strapless? what are we thinking? >> i can tell you that i have i believe seen one of the final gowns in contention for tomorrow night. we shall see if she chooses it. having said that, i did speak to one of the designers in the running for this inaugural gown and this person said something really interesting to me tonight. he said, what i'm feeling is a

mixture of excitement and also a fear of disappointing the people i love and so it is an incredibly nerve wracking time for these designers. >> no pressure. >> exactly. >> no pressure. >> as joe zee pointed out, they find out when the world does and seeing it again tonight, brooke, tomorrow night rather. >> okay. alino cho, we will all be talking. i love it. the fashion of the first lady. thank you. joe zee, thank you. >> thank you. >> live at the warner theater. big, big night. this is the place to be. we are honoring our men and women in uniform. you know the big headliner. lynyrd skynyrd. hear from them next live on cnn. what are you doing? nothing.

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♪ here with all of us getting ready for tomorrow's inauguration. the second inauguration after today's of the president of the united states. the marching band, they're doing a great job. anderson cooper, watching when's going on. i love this kind of music. you know what other kind of music i love? >> you love all kinds. >> i do.

how do you like smoky robinson? >> i do. i heard him perform at an elton john event. >> he's amazing and performing tonight at the inaugural balls and guess what we have right now? >> video. >> and sound. >> and sound. >> smoky robinson "my girl." let's listen. ♪ i've got sunshine ♪ on a cloudy day ♪ it's cold outside i've got the month of may ♪ ♪ i guess you'd say what can make me feel this way ♪ ♪ my girl my girl my girl ♪ ♪ talking about my girl my girl ♪ ♪

♪ i guess you'd say what can make me feel this way ♪ ♪ my girl my girl my girl ♪ ♪ talking about my girl >> i love that song "my girl." i believe temptations made that song pretty popular as you remember. >> of course, sure. yeah. >> you seen the ladies -- >> i've heard tell of the temptations. >> they're moving excellently. i could listen to them all night. >> there are a lot of balls happening in d.c. tonight. tomorrow, as well. traffic is very difficult to get around. >> as you and i can testify. >> there's electricity in the city and excitement about the president's second term. here with the panel of cornell belcher, margaret hoover, van jones and also sally.

second term, a lot of presidents get second terms but often do not turn out like the president anticipates. i mean, you have bill clinton who got impeached in his second term. you have richard nixon and remember what happened to him. iran-contra for president reagan. >> and lyndon johnson and vietnam war. >> right. >> one of the things we know absolutely for sure is that something is going to go wrong in the second term. >> it always happens. >> always. sometimes you can foresee it, natural disaster, a terrorist attack. it could be who know what is? i think that we're pretty safe in deciding that there's not a sex scandal in the obama family. >> george bush, it was the financial crisis. >> right. >> and katrina. >> and iraq. >> the idea's how they handle it. >> i'm going to go out on a limb. i think the worst may be behind

him. he's actually got more momentum going in than most presidents do. his numbers are actually going up. the economy's getting a little bit better. the wars are winding down so he does have a shot but most important thing to say is i think he's found his game. >> if you look at president's popularity, his is low. >> one of the lowest in past 20, 30 years but the numbers moving in the right direction. i think he's found his rhythm, found a way to actually play the game in this town. i think he may have a better second term than the first. >> margaret -- >> be careful, my friend. >> is the country more divided than been for other second term presidents? >> the temptation is to say, yes. we are listening to civil right activists saying the country is not as polarized and keep it in perspective but i think everybody has been saying to the president, in terms of

legislateively, strike while the iron is hot. traditionally for all presidents, right now. it is the first year of their second term. remember, we had six-year itch. getting to finally the third cycle, 2014, you know, generally the minority -- the house of republicans expecting to gain seats because there's a six-year itch with the presidency and then a lame duck presidency after then and so the time to pass legislation, to have a legacy piece in the next two years and really this year. >> i'll also jump in and say that there's so many x factors out there right now. the arab spring i think we think it's a good thing right now but we don't know. we don't know what will happen in all these places across the middle east. we hope democracy takes footing but we don't know. >> just a year or two talking about al qaeda being decimated and now algeria and mali and libya and others. >> i think from a foreign policy standpoint, the attention torn

back to the middle east. it just will. my prediction is that we'll have the domestic fights but i think on the danger front i think sort of what the arab spring evolves in to, we don't know and it's a big x factor. >> what we're waiting for. grambling university marching band. lynyrd skynyrd performing. do you like him? >> sure. i don't know that i'm quite as enthusiastic about the music as you are but -- >> very enthusiastic. >> for those that don't know, wolf once had a band called the monkeys before the monkees. >> that's right. >> we have to tie him to the chair and waiting for the president and the vice president speaking at the candle light celebration. let's go to a break with grambling university and the marching band. ♪ [ male announcer ] this is joe woods' first day of work.

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♪ ♪ little girl won't you do the same ♪

♪ i got a hotel ♪ such a mess ♪ when i run out of gas ♪ oh yes ♪ you can't drink and fight ♪ have a drink of champagne ♪ how about you? ♪ what's your name little girl ♪ ♪ what's your name ♪ shooting straight little girl for there ain't no shame ♪ ♪ what's your name little girl ♪ ♪ what's your name ♪ "what's your name" by lynyrd skynyrd at the red, white and

blue gala. gala or gala? >> depends on where you are. >> showing the viewers, anderson, the outfit that brooke baldwin is wearing. people focusing on the first lady. wait until you see -- >> i'll make a crazy prediction. tomorrow wolf blitzer is wearing a black suit. >> as i do every day. >> i know people are wondering what he'll wear. it is going to be black. >> showing the viewers brooke baldwin's outfit, her gown. >> stick around for this. >> amazing. wait until you see it. >> okay. >> all right? >> sure. let's bring in our panel, sally quinn, van jones. what do you anticipate hearing from the president tomorrow? and does it really matter what he says in the speech? in the media, we focus on what do people say? there have been a few memorable inaugural addresses. does it matter? >> i think it matters enormously. we want to hear a big vision from obama.

we've been disappointed in the last few big speeches he's given. you know? didn't compare to the speeches he gave when he was running for office the first time. and even his inaugural speech. and the philadelphia speech on race and, you know, he's just given some beautiful speeches but we haven't had that moment where he just sort of lifts us off our feet and so i want to hear that. i want to hear -- i want to hear that we are the greatest country on earth and we can do it but in better language. >> i hear that from a lot of people who like obama and don't like president obama, that, i mean, on the campaign trail one way and then in office his speeches -- i mean, it is a different tone. is that conscious by the president? >> i think you have to govern differently. to a certain extent, stuck in a trap. look. hope and change came in this '08 and so much hope and expectations so high and we have a lot of tough challenges and talking about a president and we want to sort of have a big come

together, we're going to do big things and huge things but we have a congress that can't pass a budget. you know? so, i mean -- >> a senate who can't pass a budget. >> you and i aren't going to get in to that this evening. basically holding our economy hostage right now so i think he has to be careful about sort of promising too much. >> as an orator, think of ronald reagan and some of his speeches we remember to this day and thinking back on president obama's speeches, other than the ones on the campaign trail, i think about the newtown, because that was where he got emotional, but it was -- it's a different kind of rhetoric and oration and must be a decision by him, the mantle of president he feels is different? >> what i can say about this one, there's nothing tougher to do as a speech giver than what he's about to do. the problem that you have when you're dealing with the inaugural address is you have to deal with the present and you have to deal with the past and the future.

you have to deal with the audience in flont of you. you will have a million people. right in front of you. but you also are dealing with people around the world. it is hard to do any one of those well. tough do them all the same time and can't go on forever. i think that he is going to want to do well tomorrow. i think he knows that there are people out there saying that this is the last big speech from obama unless there's a war or something. a last big speech. i think pressure on him to do well. i think what i would say if i'm in his -- if i were advising him in this position, he has to sound the tone he wants unity, the country to go forward and remine people of the values held in common and to show a certain amount of strength and determination to get there. in other words, i'll work with you, against you. the country is more important than the divisions here. >> you don't think that his state of the union address in two weeks before a joint session of congress is going to be as important if not more important? >> that's not the overarching

thematic visionary -- >> it's policy, substance. >> it's in the weeds. >> whoever ever remembers -- >> ask what your country -- >> that's the inaugural. >> i'm sorry. >> the inaugural address. i'm talking about state of the unions. >> we don't want a state of the union speech tomorrow. and certainly, the world doesn't. >> here's what remember from the state of the union address. you lie. >> you lie. >> that's right. >> exactly. >> to your point, though, anderson, the speech that propelled barack obama to the national stage on 2004, the nugget, we are not made of red states or blue states. we are the united states of america. something along those lines. if he can strike that tone tomorrow, that would reach out to republicans. >> that is a hardest -- >> he can't do it again but can he not strike that tone because the country wants it? >> the country wants it but i know you hold that standard high and a highest standard but that's three syllables that summed up the hopes of the country. no red states. no blue states. that did propel him. i don't know if there are six

syllables like that left in america. >> quickly, what i think you hear tomorrow is not different from the campaign trail about working to build an economy that works for the middle class, expand and strengthen the middle class. >> speaking in the next few minutes. we'll hear from the president of the united states from the candle night celebration. let's listen to more of the grambling state marching band here on the national mall. ♪

>> grambling university marching band. the vice president of the united states is about to speak with dr. jill biden. let's listen in to hear what they're saying at the candle light celebration, the national museum building. >> and that means so much to me and joe. joe and i are thrilled and i know you feel the same way to have barack obama as our president for another four years. [ applause ]

and michelle as first lady. [ applause ] and i may be a little biassed but i couldn't think of a better man than my husband to help our president lead our country for the next four years. [ applause ] as long as he has the privilege of serving this nation, i know that joe will keep fighting for american people every day. ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming my husband, our vice president, joe biden. [ applause ] >> move this away, baby. hello. i am jill biden's husband an i'm delighted to be with you all here. let me begin with the simplest of statements. thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you. you are the only reason that we are here. thank you for for your support.

thank you for being here. and most of all, thank you for believing in us. ladies and gentlemen, i've been honored to serve as vice president. but i've been especially honored to serve as barack obama's vice president. [ applause ] this man's already done an absolutely remarkable job. historic health care reform. two supreme court appointees, justice sotomayor and elaine kagan. ending the war in iraq and about to end the war in afghanistan! [ applause ] and stating forthrightly his support for marriage equality. [ applause ] i want you to know something else about this guy, barack obama. he's just getting started. he's just getting started. in the weeks and months ahead, we are going to reduce gun

violence here in america. we're going to pass comprehensive immigration reform. and we're going to put this nation's economy on a sustainable path to the future. ladies and gentlemen, it's my great honor to introduce you to a magnificent, a truly magnificent first lady, michelle obama and the guy she hangs out with, my friend, president barack obama! [ applause ] hey! hey. i thought you weren't coming out. >> we were -- >> i thought you weren't coming. i thought you changed your mind. >> hi, everybody.

excuse our tardiness. but you know what? when stevie wonder has a few words to say to you, you don't rush stevie wonder. so pardon our delay. but thank you, thanks so much, jill. thank you for that kind introduction. but more importantly, thank you for your leadership and service. [ applause ] i love joe biden! i love jill a little bit more. but i want to thank you both, you know, for making this journey so much more fun. >> yes, that's right. >> our families have bonded and this is just been a phenomenal four years. and i'm ready to do four more with both of you. >> four more. >> four more. >> four more.

>> and most of all, i want to thank all of you here tonight for everything, everything that you've done to bring this inauguration to life. this weekend has been such a wonderful celebration for our people and for the future and we know that none of it could have happened without all of you and that's why it was so important for all of us to be here and to spend sometime with you. so this weekend, as we look ahead to the next four years, we should absolutely take some time to truly enjoy this next few days. right? i mean, the last one was kind of fast. so we've all agreed we are going to take some time to just breathe in and enjoy it. but let's also remember that this inauguration is about more than all of the events that we will all enjoy this weekend.

it's about more than swearing in a president. it's about more than what we accomplish together over the next four years. it's also about the opportunities we have to make a real difference in people's lives. i mean, the truth is it -- [ applause ] it's about our opportunity to continue to lift up our families, to help more of our children achieve their dreams and put our country on a solid foundation, not just for the next few years, but for generations to come. so tonight, let us rededicate ourselves to that work. let us keep building on the progress that we've made and let's keep working and fighting and pushing forward. >> forward. >> forward. >> forward. >> forward! to make the real changes that's happened and that's what this man, my husband, has been doing for these last four years. [ applause ]

and let me tell you. it's just been a true thrill to watch this handsome, charming individual grow in to the man and the president that he is. we have seen him every single day. his integrity. his character. his sense of humor. his compassion. his courage. and no matter what the obstacles, we have seen him be so steady facing the challenges that lie ahead. and as always, held true to one unwavering belief and that is that we love this country and we can all work together to change it. so ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome the love of my life and our president for the next four years, barack obama.

[ applause ] love you. >> hello, everybody! good evening. now, first of all, i love michelle obama. [ applause ] and to address the most significant event of this weekend, i love her bangs. she looks good. she always looks good. you know, as president, you make a lot of important decisions. probably the most important decision is who's going to be your partner during the course of your presidency.

and, you know, there have been some decisions i got right. some maybe folks might question. but one decision i know was absolutely correct, absolutely spot on was my choice of vice president. i could not have a better partner than joe biden and joe biden couldn't have a better partner than dr. jill biden. we love these folks. give them a round of applause. [ applause ] now, some of you may have heard the story of andrew jackson's inaugural reception. party goers got so rowdy they broke several thousands dollars worth of white house china. so my first big thank you tonight is to the national building museum for hosting us. here. i also want to thank the source for their outstanding

entertainment, the u.s. navy sea chanters. [ applause ] and a guy who is known to make pretty good music, mr. stevie wonder. [ applause ] i'm delivering another speech tomorrow. so, tonight i'm going to be pretty brief because, you know, there are limited amount of good lines and you don't want to use them all up tonight. my main purpose tonight is just to say thank you. as i look out on the room, we have got people from every walk of life. every corner and nook and cranny of this country. every state, every city, every suburb. people who have invested so much heart and soul and time, money, energy. you know, one of the things that made this